Prime-mover-control system



March 26, 1929. H. v. NYE ET AL 1,706,808

PRIME MOVER CONTROL SYSTEM Filed June '23, 1924 Patented Mar. '26, 1929. i

I UNITED] STATES PATENT OFFICE. g

HENRYVV. NYE, or wns'r ALLIS, AND RALPH H. EARLE, or wAUw'A'rosA, Wisconsin.

ASSIGNOBS TO ALLIS CHALMERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OE MILWAUKEE.

WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

rnmn-movnn-contmon SYSTEM.

Application filed June 23, 1924. Serial No. 721,660.

v This invention relates to control systems for prime movers. f

One of the objects ofthe invention is to provide a system whereby a prime mover may be automatically slowly started and brought to normal running condition. Another object is to provide a control system whereby a prime mover may be slowly stopped and the means for admit-ting operating fluid thereto closed without shock. t

A more specific ob'ect is to provide a prime mover control system in which a restricted application of power to the gate or other means for admitting operating fluid to the prime mover is provided for while starting or stopping the prime mover, to cause slow motion of said gate. Another more specific object is toprovide meansperforming one or more of the aforesaid results in combination with agovernor for the prime mover comprising fluid pressure operated motive devices. Other objects will be apparent hereinafter as the description of thev invention 6 proceeds.

The novel features of the invention will ap pear from this specification and accompanying drawing forming a part thereof and disclosing one embodiment of said invention, and all these novel features are intended to be pointed out in the claims.

The single figure of the drawings is a diagrammatic showing of the manner in which the invention may be applied in combination with a hydraulic turbine and governor therefor.

Referring to the drawing the prime mover here shown is a hydraulic turbine 1 which may, through shaft 2, drive a generator 3. the turbine 1 supplied with water through a pipe 1- in which mounted a valve or gate 5 pivoted at the point 6. It is to be understood that the admission of water to turbine 1 may be controlled in any other suitable manner as for example by the usual guide vanes. For the sake of brevity the means for controlling the admission of operating fluidto the turbine or other prime mover will be called a gate hereinafter. Gate 5 is adapted to be operated by means of a crank 7 connected by red 3 to a servo-motor including pistons 9, 10 here shown as operating in unison in two independent cylinders. Other suitable forms of motors may be utilized. The pistons 9, 10 may be operated by admitting fluid under pressure to one or the other of the cylinders as the case may be, and suchadmission of fluid maybe controlled by a. regulating valve 11.

The regulating valve is provided with spaced piston valves 12, 13 operating in a cylinder 16. When the regulating valve 11 is in its neutral position piston valves 12, 13 close ports 14, 15 in cylinder 16, respectively. The

cylinder 16.is provided with drain ports 17,

18 suitably positioned with respect to piston valves 12, 13. These drain portsmay be connected in any suitable manner with a receiving tank 19 "from which latter'oil may be drawn by means of a pump 20 and discharged into a pressure tank 21. "A pipe22 leads from pressure tank21'to a shut-off valve 23 which munication between pipe 22 and another pipe inlthe posit-ion of the parts-shown, closes com- 24 which isconnected through a 'port'tocylinder'16, the port being shown between 'piston valves 12, 13. The shut-off valve 23 is here shown as operable to open position by means of a piston .25 normally held in the underpressure may be admitted, through a pipe 26, above piston 25 to move the same position shown by means of a spring. Fluid I againstthebias of a suitably disposed restraining spring. An eleetro-magnetically operated-valve 27 provided with an operating co'il28 is adaptedwhen effectively actuated to open communication between pipe 26 and another pipe 29 coneeted to pipe 22.

The regulating valve 11 is operatively related through a rod 30 carrying the piston valves 12, 13, with a floating lever 31. The floating lever 31 carries at one end aswivel nut 32 through a hole in which the rod 30 is adapt- I ed to pass. Rod 30 carries a collar 33 pinned thereto and a spring 34 is disposed about rod 30 between collar ,33 and swivel. nut 32. The

. disposed around rod 30 is a sleeve or collar 36, here shown as provided with a cylindrical extension loosely surrounding the collar 33. This cylindrical extension may however be dispensed with. A spring 37 is disposed between collar 33 and the loose collar 36.

Then spring 37 is not compressed as shown it sets collar 36 up againstanother collar 38 pinned to shaft 80.

The regulating valve 11 is adapted to b e controlled independently of floating lever 31 and for this purpose the collar 36 is here shown as provided with a projection 39 adapted'to be 'ei'igaged by a c'ontrol finger lt).

t is of course to be understood tnat the illustrated embodiment is merely one way in" which control finger 40 may affect regulating valve 11, and that also the'connectionbetween the regulating valve and the floating lever may be varied in any! desirable manner; Gontrol'finger 4L0 tends'to be biasedoutoi engageinent'withprojection=39 by'nieans ota' spr 79; Rigidly associated with control finger 4:0 is a lever ll provided at one end with'a portion having a hole l2 throughnvhich arod 48-is adapted-to pass. One'end of rod iS-is' provided with an adjustable nut 44' adapted to-alo'ut against lever 41;; Rod-"43 ls'pivoted to one arinot' a'bell cr'a nk lever 45, theotlier arm of which'is' connected by means of arodi 4G to acrank 47 operating'inunison with the gate 5.- The connection'betw'een gate and control linger through rod 4-3 and the asso ciated-part's' constitutes a-load'limiting'device.

The shut ofl valve may be by-passed by apipe 48 anda-pipe 49 ina n'ianner' to be nowdescribed The pipe 48" connected to pipe 22 is 'eonneotible, through a valve 51' with the pip communicating with 1 a port 50 incylinder 16;; Valve 51*includes a*valve memberoperable ina cylinder 56 provide'd with a channel 53' adapted, when the" valve member 521s raised; to placea port 54ac'om municatin'g; with pipe 49' and a port 55 com m'unicating with pipe 48in communication.

The position of valve member 52 may be ao centuated either 1n-1ts olosed or open- POS14 tlons by means otaball 57 which is adapted,

iii-tho position of the parts shownyto engage" an annular notch 1 58 in the'valve 'inei'nber '52,

Movement of the 'Vil-lVUDlGHllDQl" 52 upwardly valve member 52. RodGO is provided with another collar 6'2 fixed thereto-and a'dz'i'pted, when the rod'GO is movedupwardly ap'rede'- tGIHllIl'OCl distanceflo engage the lower end of valve 52; The operatingrod 6O may" be raiscd-byme'a-ns of a piston' 63'bi'a'sed t'o the position shown in anyisttita'ble manner, as bya spring 87.- The pistonGi-B is'ope'ra blei-n' cylinder 64130 which fluid under pressure may be admitted through apipe' For the purpose ofcontrollingithe"adinission of fluid un der pressure to pipe 65=th-ere is here-shown an clcctroinagnetically operated valve 66 provided with an operating coil 67 which when e'itectively actuated opens coinni'unica tion between pipe65 and a pipe 68 connected to pressure tank 21 as through pipe %8.

The amount of fluid under pressure which may flow through bypass i814l9fn1ay be regulated as by a reducingvalve'69. f

The operating means for valve 51 is here shown alsoperiorniing another functioin namely, exercising a control on regulating valve l-l, thoughsepa'rate means may be ei ployed. F or this purpose the upper end of rod 60'is suitably pivotally connected to a lever 70 rotatable about pivot 86 inde'pend ently of levei's' i0 l1; lVhen lever 70 is swungin a countencloc'lrwise direction; as viewedin' the drawing, it abuts against an'ad justable screw 1 c'arried by a'le'ver '22 ope'rating in unison with lever orcontrol finger 40. At the pivotal connection between operatinp; rod60 and lever 70 a roller 78 is p'r-ovided which acts as a detentcooperable with a latch 74- pivoted a't'th-e' point 75. Operable in unisonwith latch 7 isalever T6 biased, by: nie'ansot a" spring 77,=in such direction that when roller 73*is' littet'l s'uihciently high,

latch 74 will swing to a'positionwhere reverse movement ofrod GOwrll be stopped by'e'n gageinent with rolle 13 with lat-chi i. The

latch Wl'ma'y be stoppedin engaging: position I by means of a stop 88 and an extension latchiil.

v In the position otthe )airts shown a collar 78 rigidly attacned' to FCC 455 s shown as in 'engagein ent with lever 'ZG inwhich 'p'o'sition of tho'parts the latch'z' l has e-en moved out of engagement with roller 73.

The floating lever 31' 1s provided'w'ith a floatingpivot 80 to v driven in any desiredmann'er, as by means of belt 82 from shaft 2, so that the fiyball mechanism will be responsive to the speed of the turbine or generator. To one end, 83, of

the'floating lever is-pivoted-the piston rod of a' compensating or dash pot device; 84

which may be of any suitable and desired form. The lower end of the compensating tank 2i. PistonGS therefore slowly rises and" swings lever 'F0 in clockwise direction therebyper'inittir .trol finger ll-0 also follow in clocliwi direction under the influence of spring 79 and springs 34, 3'7. The-regulat ingval-ve'rodflO therefore slow; moves the piston-valves 12-, 13'toward neural-position.

I inch is connected in any suitable manner the fiyball niecnanisnr S1 Continued upward movement of piston 63 raised high enough so that latch 74, if permitted to swing in a connter-clockwise direction, will be beneath roller 74 and in a. position to engage said roller so as to; prevent return movement of piston (53 for a purpose to be set forth hereinafter. Further movement oi? )lS- ton 63 in an upward direction will cause collar 62 to move'valve member 52 to a position where the channel. 5;) places ports 54,' 55 in con'miunication. In this position the accentuating roller 57 is snapped into notch 59. -A restricted quantity oi fluid under pressure is now admitted through lay-pass 48, 49 and port 50 to the regulating valve, which has been meanwhile moved further toward gateopcn. position, thereby admitting some fluid under pressure to the cylinder of piston 10.

thus moving gate 5toward open position. I A very slight opening,movementof gate 5 Will cause rod 46, through lever 45, to move collar 78 awayv from lever 76 thereby permitting latch -74 to move, under the influence of spring 77, to a position where it is ready to be engaged by roller 73 upon any return movement of rod 60. W hen the turbine 1 has started'by reason of the opening of gate 5 the flyballs 81 wilh depending upon their adjustment, begin to exert an influence on regulating valve 11 through floating lever 3L to control the speed of the turbine. It will therefore be evident that the control finger 40 has completely, released regula .ing valve 11 and the turbine is under speed control. When the turbine h as reached normal speed or gate 5 has been fully opened, or the generator 3 has been connected to the line, coil 28 may be energized. Coil 28 may of course be energized under any other desi red predetermined conditions. En-. ergization of coil 28 opens communication between. pipes 29 and 26 thereby cousin the shut-oil valve 223 to move to open pc in which it connec' pipes 22' and 24. The

)assage throu h oi ms 22. 24 is larv'c enough c. O J. A:

to admit the normal quantity of fluid under pressure to lt .lating valve 11, and therefore to the servo ator, so that the servo-motor may operate gate 5 more rapidly. The controlling influence of the fiy balls upon gate 5, through the action of regulating valve 11. will therefore take place more rapidly so that the speed of turbine 1 will-bemaintained constant under load conditions. hen gate 5 has reached a predeterminedopen position, nut 44 will engage the portion 42 of lever 41. If regulating valve 11 1s m gate-open position,

trol finger counter-clockwise thus moving regulating valve to neutral position and stop-- ping further opening movement of gate 5. Such control of the regulating valve by nut 44' ispossible because lever 7 O is independent of levers 40, 41 and it docs'not therefore.

' interfere with the operation of the load limitin means.

1- T he operation of the system when it 18 desired to stop the turbineis asfollows: Coils pressure to the regulating valve and servo- Y 'motor is theretore through by-pass 48, 49.

The deenergization of coil 67 closesvalve 66 thereby permittingpiston 63 to descend under the influence of spring 87. Downward mot-ion of piston 63 causes counter-clockwise motion of control linger 40 thereby compressing springs 37 and 34 and when the regulating valve 11 has beenmoved just beyond new tral position toward gate-closed position the roller 7 3 will engage latch 74. At this time collar 61 1s m engagement with or ready to engage valve member 52 but has not moved the latter which is still in the open position permitting fluid under pressure to pass through by-pass 48, 49. This fluid passes through the regulating valve 11 and into the cylinder of piston 9 thereby slowly closing gate 5; WVhen gate5 has nearly reached its closed posit-ion collar 78 engages lever 76 and 1 further movement swings l'ever76 in a clockwise direction thereby releasing latch 74. Spring 87 is therefore tree to move collar 61 against valve member 52 to close the same. This brings the parts to the same position as shown in the drawing.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact de tails of construction shown and described, for

obvious modifications may occur to persons skilled in the art. I g It is claimed and desired to ters Patent:

1. In a control system for a prime mover,

a gate for controlling the admission or oper ating fluid to said prime mover, means ineluding fluid pressure operated means'tor operating said gate, a control valve for said flUlCl pressure operated means, and

means for supplying said control valve with a restricted quantity of fluid under pressure and supplying a larger quantity under predetermined conditions, the pressure of the source oi supply remaining substanfor said prime mover including a servo motor for said gate and means responsive to the speed of said prime mover for controlling secure by Letloo said servo-motor, means for supplying a quantityof fluid under pressure to said governor sufficient to enable it to perform its normal regulating function, and means for restricting said supply When said prime mover is being started or stopped.

3. In a control system for a prime mover, a gate for controlling the admission of operating fluid to said prime mover, a governor for said prime mover including a servo-motor for said gate and regulating valve therefor, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said rogulat valve, and common means operable independently o1" said'governor for controlling the position. of said regulating valve and the supply of fluid pressure thereto.

l. in a control s stem for aprime mover, a gatefor contro'lling the admission of openating fluid to said prime mover, a governor for said prime mover including a servo-, motor for said gate and a regulating valve therefor, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said regulating valve, means tor controlling the position of said regulating valve and the supply of fiuid'pressure there to, and means for depriving said last named means of its control of the supply of fluid pressure. I

5. In a control system for a prime mover, a gate for controlling the admission of'opt ating fluid to sa-id prime mover, a governor i for said prime mover including a servo-motor for said gate and a regulat-i g valve therefor, means for supplying fluid under-prsure to said re ulating valve, common means,

operable independentlyo'f said governor for controlling the position of said regulating valve and the supply of? fluid pressure there to, and'means responsive to the position oi said gate for controlling said last named means.

6. Ina control system for a prime mover, a gate for controlling the admission oi -operating fluidto said prime mover, a governor for said prime mover including a servomotor "for said gate, a control valve for said servo-motor, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said control valve, means for controlling said supply of fluid under pressure, and means for depriving said lastnamed means of its control of said fluid pressure supply.

7. In a control system for a prime mover, a gate for controlling the admis .on of operating fluid to said Pllli'lG mover, a governor for said prime mover including a servo-motor for said gate,'a control valve for said servomotor, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said control valve, means for control ling" said supply of fluid under pressure, means for initially actuating said fluid pressure supply controlling meansindependently of said'gate and While said governor is at rest, and means responsive to the position of thereof means oaerativel related to said regulating valve for predetermining the max imum gate opening, means 'l'or supplying fluid under aressure to said re 'ulatino valve 7 and means for restricting said fluid pressure supply under predetermined onditions.

9. 1n a system for controlling a prime mover, a gate for controlling the admission of operating fluid to said prime mover, a servo-motor for controlling said gate, a valve for controlling the admission of fluid under pressure to said servo-motor, means for holding said valve in open position, and'mea-ns operated by said gate for releasing said holdmg means.

10. In a system for controlling a prime mover, a gate for controlling the admission of operating fiuidto said prime mover, a servounot-or for controlling said gate, a reg ulating valve for said servo-motor havinga gate-closed and'neutra'l position, asecond valve for controlling the admission of fluld under pressure to said servo-motor, means for moving said regulating valve to a position toward gate-closed position a predetermined amount beyond'neutral position, means for holding'said second valve in open position, and means responsive to the position of said gate for releasing said holding means.

11. In a system for stopping a prime mover, a gate for controlling the admission of operating fluid to said prime mover, fluid pressure operated means for operating said gate, means for supplying fluid under-pressure to said gate-operating means to close said gate, and means responsive to a predetermined gate-position for cuttingoff said supply of fluid pressure.

1 In a system for starting a prime mover,

a gate for controlling the admission of operating fluid to said prime mover, fllllClPlGS- sure operated means for operatingsaid gate,

means for admitting a supply of fluid under pressure to said last named means suliicient to slowly open said gate, means responsive to the speed of said prime mover and permitting it to rise to a predetermined value, and

means {for then increasing'the supply of fluid under pressure.

13. In a system for starting prime mover, a gate forcontrolling the admission of operating fluid to said prime mover, fluid pressure operated means for operating said gate, means for admitting a supply of fluid under pressure to said last named means 'suficient to slowly open said gate, means responsive to the 'spee'd'ofsaid primemo'ver and permitunder pressure, and means for predetermining the maximum gate opening. t 7

14. In a control system for a'prime mover, a gate for admitting operating fluidto said prime mover, a servo-motor-tor operating said gate, a regulatingvalve for said servomotor, a member operatively related tosaid/ regulating valve and biased to move said valve to gate-open position, a member positioned 1n accordance withthe position of said gate and having a lost motion connection with said first named member, and a motive device for moving said first named member toward gate-open position andhavingalost motion connection therewith, and a valve for controlling a supply of fluid under pressure to said regulating valve operatively related to said motive device.

. 15. In a control system for a prime mover, a gate for admitting operating fluid to said prime mover, a servo-motor for operating said gate, a regulating valve for said servo motor, a member operatively related to said regulating valve and biased to move said valve to gate-open position, a member positioned in accordance wtih the position of said gate and'having a lost motion connection with said first named member, and a motive device for moving said first named member toward gate-open position and having a lost motion connection therewith, and a valve for controlling a supply of fluid under pressure to said regulating valve operatively related by a lost motion. connection to said motive device.

16. In a control system for a prime mover, a gate for admitting operating fluid to said prime mover, a servo-motor for operating 'said gate, a regulating valve forsaid servomotor, a member operatively related to said regulating valve and biased to move said valve to gate-open position, a member positioned in accordance with the position of said gate and having a lost motion connection with said first named member, and a motive device for moving said first named member (toward gateopen position and having a lost motion connection therewith, a valve for controlling a supply of fluid under pressure to said regulating valve operatively related to said motive device by a lost motion connection and opened by a predetermined travel of said motive device, and means for preventing reclosure ofsaid valve, after 'saidlost motion has been taken up, by reverse movement of said motive device. v

17. In a gate-control system for a prime mover, a servomotor regulating valve, a

valve for controlling the admission'of fluid under pressure to said regulating valve comprising, a valve-member, an operating member for said valve member having a lost motion connection therewith, a detent/on said {operatingmemben atlatchipositioned to be engageable with said detent when said operating member has substantially taken up I said lost motion toward 'valve-openposition anda connection between said operating member and said regulating valve.

-18. Ina gate-controlling system for a prime mover, a gate operating control-means including, a control member, an operating member for said control memberhaving a lost motion connection therewith, a detent on said operating member, and a latch positioned to be engagea'ble with saiddetent when said operating member has substantially taken up said lost motion.

19. In a gate-control system for a prime mover, a servo-motor regulating valve, a valve for controlling the admission of fluid under pressure to said regulating valve comprising, a valve-member, an operating mem- I ber for said valve member having a lost motion connection therewith, a detent on said operating member, a latch positioned to be engageable with said detent when said operating member has substantially taken up said lost motion toward valve-open position and a connection between said operating member and load limiting means connected to said regulating valve, and means, connecting said operating member with said regulating valve, whereby said operating member causes movement of said regulating valve during the starting and stopping periods while permitting control of said regulating valve during the running period of said prime mover..

20. In a control system for a prime mover, a gate for controlling the admission of operating fluid to said prime mover, means including fluidpressure operated means for operating said gate, a control valve for said fluid pressure operated means, a shut-oil valve which when open admits a normal quantity of fluid under pressure to said control valve, a bypass around said shut-off valve, and means in. said bypass whereby a restricted quantity of fluid under pressure may be admitted to said control valve when. said shut-off valve is closed.

21. In a control system for a prime mover,

a gate for-controlling the admission of operating fluid to said prime mover, means includingfluid pressure operatedmeans for operating said gate, a control valve for said fluid pressure operated means, means respon sive to the. speed of said prime mover operatively related to said control valve, means for 22. In a control system for a prime mover,

a gate for controllingthe admission of oper- .ating; fluid .to said prime mover,- mea-ns includ- 511g;1i11id1JI'esSL1Ee opemted means-{01% Qpemti11g -.said gate, cont-r01 .valve i-folasaidifluid pressure operated mea-ns', W21, shut-off Walve which When-open,admitsa: normal quantity of fluid under pnessu-reto :said control valve, .means:f0r1-. biasing .snidcont-rel valve to gate- ,open'position when saidprimezmover is-. at

rest, a bypass around :said shut o'ff valve, ,'means 1111 881d :bypass whereby a IIEStIJQtQd quantity, pf. fluad-unlder pressmre maybe-adconditions, and means qpemted by saidilast 15 named anea ns :for =0pemt-ing said restricted quantity admit-ting means.

111 'tqstnnony whereof,- the slgnatures of the inventers a-relwffixed hereto.

HENRY' V. NYE, RALPH -H. ill BL 

